Worksite Temperature Screening for COVID-19.

Abstract

ObjectiveTo determine whether temperature screening is useful in detecting and reducing workplace transmission of SARS-CoV-2.MethodsA survey was conducted to determine whether temperature screening successfully identified workers with COVID-19 among a convenience sample of medical directors of multinational corporations in a wide range of industries.ResultsMore than 15 million screenings were performed by 14 companies. Fewer than 700 episodes of fever were identified. Of these, only about 53 cases of COVID-19 were detected. By contrast about 2000 workers with diagnosed COVID-19 were in the workplace and not detected by screening.ConclusionsOne case of COVID-19 was identified by screening for approximately every 40 cases that were missed. Worksite temperature screening was ineffective for detecting workers with COVID-19 and is not recommended.